About
To produce and encourage good literature in English, Hindi and other Indian languages and to make it available at reasonable prices, building a culture of reading.
The National Book Trust (NBT) is India's state-owned publishing house and apex reading-promotion body, established in 1957. It publishes affordable books for all ages - including children and neo-literates - across dozens of Indian languages, promotes Indian books abroad, assists authors and publishers, runs the National Centre for Children's Literature and the Readers' Club movement, and organises the New Delhi World Book Fair, one of Asia's largest.
Founded to democratise reading in a newly independent, multilingual nation, NBT built a vast catalogue of low-priced books across India's languages, with a special emphasis on children's literature and new readers. Since 1972 it has organised the New Delhi World Book Fair at Pragati Maidan - now among the largest book fairs in Asia - and it represents India at international fairs (including as Guest of Honour at events abroad).
Through its National Centre for Children's Literature, reading-promotion campaigns and translations, NBT functions as the Government's principal instrument for building a reading culture nationwide.
Founding & Leadership
The National Book Trust (NBT) was established on 1 August 1957 as an autonomous body of the Government of India to encourage good literature and make it available at affordable prices. Inaugurated in the presence of Prime Minister Nehru, it functions under the Ministry of Education (Department of Higher Education) and is fully government-funded.
An autonomous body under the Ministry of Education, governed by a Chairman and Board of Trustees.
Leadership & Trustees
Initiatives & Portfolio
One of Asia's largest book fairs, organised at Pragati Maidan since 1972 (with ITPO).
Low-priced books for all ages across dozens of Indian languages, including for children and neo-literates.
Promotes children's literature and the national Readers' Club movement.
Represents India at international book fairs and promotes Indian literature globally.
Impact & Metrics
Partnerships & Network
Government partners
Funders & patrons
Credentials & Compliance
CSR-eligible · Not applicable (government body)
A fully government-funded autonomous body; not a CSR recipient.
Recognition
India's apex reading-promotion and state publishing body; organiser of the New Delhi World Book Fair.
[Atlas Assessment] The National Book Trust is the backbone of affordable reading in India. By publishing across dozens of languages at low prices, prioritising children's and new-reader literature, and running the country's largest book fair, it has done more than any private publisher to democratise access to books - quietly shaping literacy and reading culture for nearly seven decades.
NBT scores high on reach and longevity - its affordable-publishing and book-fair footprint is genuinely mass-scale - and solidly on impact. As a government publisher its caveats are the familiar ones of pace and commercial dynamism relative to private publishing. Its distinctive public value is access and equity: the books and languages the market underserves.